Some challenges for Christiansburg appear to resurface, time and again, becoming more problematic due to delays, "phases" or a failure to address root problems.
One example is the Christiansburg Planning Commission, which has moveable meeting dates and times. Typically held on the first and third Mondays at either 3 or 4 pm, this week's meeting will be held Tuesday at 3 pm.
This agenda includes "Council's intention to adopt an ordinance in regards to a rezoning request by Albert Land" -- an affirmative statement for an application already rejected twice before (and withdrawn once). This current request for a rezoning has been muddied up by misstatements by public officials and misinformation -- to the point the landowner's agent for Ivy Ridge was confused about Sage Lane's inclusion or not. Why, too, are VDoT standards referenced if not applicable to Christiansburg residential districts?
Voters, and home buyers, are now painfully aware of "concept" plans morphing to entirely different realities which equate to undelivered promises. The biggest problem seems to be disappearing access roads, bringing several hundred homes in or out of Peppers Ferry by a single street. In the picture above, the red lines indicate proposed roadways (maybe, it could have changed again and surveyors have been busier than bees in the spring since the last meeting). The green lines are the proposed areas for new residential development in and around what is known as New River Village. Again, all on one road in or out. No connections to the older phases, shown to the right -- or the one to the right of it and so on -- to all adjacent neighborhoods regardless of who developed them or when they were originally built. But suddenly inter-connectivity appears to be an issue? Well, perhaps it really depends on how the question was framed.
Another concern is how the percent of homes valued under $250,000 are skewed and straining the entire Town's tax base -- so the "macro significance" of such development does hit everyone's wallets and negates the supposed NIMBYism. If it's happening anywhere in Christiansburg, it is our backyard and doesn't affect just Sage Lane landowners or daily drivers along Route 114.
Citizen questions are still unaddressed by any official statement from the Town as regards a "public game room" at 1225-C Roanoke Street (the first limited information was only made available July 20) and yet another conditional use permit for a commercial garage at 1020 Radford Street. One of the Planning Commission's last commercial garage requests promised no more than "6 or 10" restorations at any one time on this site. Readers are encouraged to drive by Depot and Park Street and count the cars, paying particular attention to vehicles apparently in for major body work due to accidents.
Then consider a "major home occupation" invading a residential neighborhood to allow a commercial landscaping business in a single-family residential area. Sounds of no noise ordinance rise again. Fire up those lawn mowers and diesel engines at 6am and see what happens to property values, Council.
Mainly, citizens should be learning all they can about these "minor" issues to gain an understanding of whether they are aligned or in conflict with the Town's Comprehensive Plan -- and how not getting it right disrupts neighborhoods and weakens property values (and tax revenues).